Hazel Blears Explains Political Blogging
IF Hazel Blears were half as sharp as her voice she’d understand just how dumb her comments on blogggers are.
(Image: Beau Bo D’Or)
Blears is addressing the Hansard Society. The subject is “poltical disengagment”. Indeed:
“Political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.”
Blears is the countries - get his - Communities Minister. It says so on her, er, blog.
Blears seems to have missed the entire US Presidential campaign, failing to notice how the Obama camp harnessed the power of the web, bloggers and social networks.
It gets better. Blears then blames the media for, well, everything:
“Until political blogging adds value to our political culture, by allowing new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and despair.”
Nothing then to do then with politicos being self-serving, learning to smile through new teeth, taking all the praise for the good times and not forseeing the bad times, lying to the electorate over a war, lying to the elctorate over tobacco advertising, being opportunistic, using race as tool to whip up hatred and mistrust and seeing politics as a career and not a calling.
It’s all about the media. It is they who must learn to be more trusting.
The Independent notes that some “politicians write blogs too”. Some even write for the papers.
The commentariat operates without scrutiny or redress. They cannot be held to account for their views, even when they perform the most athletic and acrobatic of flip-flops in the space of a few weeks. I can understand when commentators disagree with each other; it’s when they disagree with themselves we should worry.
Well, no, writers get sacked if they are wrong and the readers no long read them. Their words are on record. Bloggers can mull them over and then highlight failings. Take Labour’s 1997 manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on electoral reform; Labour’s pledge to half child poverty; to have an ethical foreign policy; and so on and on and on…
Posted: 6th, November 2008 | In: Politicians Comments (14) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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November 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
why are they so many strident female labour politicos who ‘know best’?
Blears sends me crackers every time I see her bouncing around on TV but she comes second on the irritation scale to Dawn Nanny Primarilo. (don’t know how to spell it and really can’t be arsed to check!) The nanny voice, the nanny ‘I’m disappointed in you’ expression; aaarrrggghhh.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Chenier
I still wonder though, if Obama knows about Bob The Builder
November 6th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Hazel Schnazel - Knightess of The New Order of the Neo-Bollocks Party says:
“Political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.”
……………………………………………………………………………………………
So what is this Weirdy One really saying? That we shouldn’t be unearthing scandals, conspiracies or any perceived hypocrisy?
So - it’s OK for the NOTW and Panorama to do all of the above - but not the fucking Bloggers and Posters of the realm?
Thanks Commandant Hazel Schnazel! Thanks a fucking lot!
Because this means that when programme-makers and newspaper editors are banned from airing their investigations - and Bloggers and Posters are banned from airing theirs - people like John Prescott and other Government busy-bodies can carry on living it up at the tax-payers expense!
Where’s Mandy and Big Blair and Baby Blair hanging out at the moment?
Very low profiles all around! Bastards. Drag ‘em out and get’em in the ring!
Poor Menezes! Poor Aluminium traders! Poor contractors! Poor MM!
November 6th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Chenier
Much as I dislike the wee poof these days, I cannot compare is ascension to St Margaret’s
There are many who wish to sing’ Ding Dong the Witch is Dead’
November 6th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Ah but in Parliament, she sits
and if not, Woohhhhhhh
November 6th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Come on, Sponge Bob; New Labour was Maggie Thatcher without the sex appeal…
November 6th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
The woman has a voice made for dog whistle politics
November 6th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Clearly, she doesn’t think that there are many supporters reading the internet.
…and that the Labour movement has always been based on the ‘poor people’ indulging in debate
November 6th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
It’s the bit about the culture of cynicism and despair that gets me; doesn’t she know that we can?
November 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Fanaticalstatic stuff
How does one of the New Girls of the New Labour develop so much disdain for free speech? Or is it just non controlled media?
I may well be the one closing the door.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Hey Bleary, I might even have liked you…You will never know now
November 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Perhaps we could have a whip-round and send her a postcard explaining that some guy called Obama managed to get over half the personal votes, and a massive majority in the electoral college, in the US Presidential Election with the assistance of an unprecedented understanding of the way the Web works.
Or is that too complicated for her?
November 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Blear is so out of touch she can’t even see over the bar
November 6th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
of course we believe politicians, ever tried a salted one? yummy oh bugger was thinking of almonds…now back to politicians….are they deluded or just out and out fibbers?